Chapter 140: Just Keep Bluffing

Of course, Ye Aotian was furious with this guy; he wished he could tear Lin Li apart alive. Yet at this moment, he had no particularly good solution. Lin Li seemed to have anticipated this outcome long ago and had already begun laying plans well in advance. Up until now, even if Ye Aotian had the intention to act, he simply had no suitable reason to break the deadlock.

“If this continues, we’re doomed,” Ye Aotian muttered quietly.

Previously, if he had been upset, he could have chosen to kill Lin Li outright. But now, Ye Aotian couldn’t even entertain such a worst-case scenario. He had to admit that Lin Li’s arrangements throughout this series of events were remarkably clever, leaving him without the slightest way to counter.

“Young master,” Chen Along said, “this matter is already settled. Perhaps we should consider negotiating with Lin Li. After all, we see each other often; if cooperation is possible, it would be better.”

Chen Along genuinely did not understand why Ye Aotian insisted on making Lin Li his adversary. Although Lin Li had certainly caused trouble before, if Ye Aotian could reconcile with him, he believed those incidents would cease. Yet on this issue, Ye Aotian was stubborn to the point of obsession, unwilling to let go of his grudges, even prepared for a final showdown.

Even now, with Chen Along pleading so earnestly, Ye Aotian remained disdainful.

“You want me to cooperate with such a scoundrel? That’s a tremendous insult to me,” he said scornfully. “If it were Qin Guosheng, I might understand—after all, he built the Qin Group from nothing, running it up to its current stature. But Lin Li? That fool merely stole Qin Guosheng’s hard-earned achievements. If trash like him deserves to collaborate with me, then what am I, Ye Aotian, worth?”

The more Ye Aotian thought about it, the angrier he became. What was his status, and what was Lin Li’s? They were worlds apart. From any perspective, Lin Li had no right to utter a word in this matter. Yet time and again, this very man snatched various benefits from Ye Aotian’s hands, even stealing the woman Ye Aotian had his eye on.

Seeing Ye Aotian so enraged, Chen Along knew that nothing he could say now would have any effect.

He could not fathom what Ye Aotian was thinking. It was clearly a matter where a step back could open vast horizons. Yet Ye Aotian insisted on complicating things, dragging himself into a massive entanglement.

Still, though Ye Aotian was angry, it did not mean he would simply give up.

At that moment, Ye Aotian suddenly received a call from Ning Yurou.

“Yurou, why are you calling me? Could it be that you miss me?” he teased gently. “Don’t worry, I’m coming to find you right away.”

But Ning Yurou on the other end refused outright.

“I’m not in Jiangcheng at the moment, so there’s no need for you to come looking for me.” She added, “But I heard from my father about the current situation with the Qin Group. Apparently, the Qin Group is preparing to accept a joint donation from the Four Great Families.”

Hearing this, Ye Aotian’s anger flared anew, and he proceeded to explain the overall situation to Ning Yurou.

“This is outrageous. They’ve already agreed to cooperate with you, yet at this critical moment, they choose to abandon you and instead work with Lin Li. This investment is a grave insult.”

Ning Yurou’s anger matched Ye Aotian’s as she listened. To an outsider, it might seem as if Ye Aotian had no connection to the matter, merely watching from the sidelines.

Her words finally eased Ye Aotian’s mind somewhat.

“Yurou,” he said, “these days I’ve faced so many troubles that I’ve even begun doubting whether I’m truly as capable as I thought.”

He sighed, struck down by the blows.

For so long, he believed his abilities surpassed all others, that solving any problem was effortless. But recent events had left him bewildered. He even felt that Lin Li was his nemesis, his bane, such that no matter what he did, he could never gain the upper hand.

Ning Yurou almost laughed on the other end.

She knew Lin Li had some tricks, but she never imagined he could be so formidable as to crush Ye Aotian’s confidence entirely.

Yet she could not allow Ye Aotian to lose hope now.

“This is the most crucial moment. If you give up now, everything will be lost,” she urged. “Tell me, do you want to deal with Lin Li? Make him pay for what he’s done?”

Ye Aotian jolted instantly. Could it be that Ning Yurou had a plan?

“Yurou, I knew you’re sharp and clever, sure to find the best way to handle Lin Li from a new angle.”

Hearing Ye Aotian’s excitement, Ning Yurou smiled wryly in her heart.

“Of course. There’s nothing beyond my grasp. This guy thinks he’s stronger than everyone else, but he’ll soon pay the price for his recklessness.”

Ye Aotian spoke with conviction. Despite Lin Li’s current seeming strength, in their eyes, it was nothing.

“The Four Great Families are about to jointly invest in the Tianxin District project. I’ve heard that to win them over, Tianxin District will offer them a share of the benefits,” Ning Yurou explained. “I’m thinking, if we invest enough, perhaps we can secure more advantages ourselves.”

Ye Aotian’s expression shifted. “You mean, have me invest in Tianxin District? So we can get better land plots?”

Ning Yurou nodded. “I heard the project’s overseer is managing this personally. As long as you offer an amount that catches his attention, you’ll definitely secure a plot.”

After hearing this, Ye Aotian was silent for a moment. He had to admit, the proposition was tempting indeed.